Container root escalation via writable /etc/passwd
Published Apr 8, 2026 · Updated Apr 8, 2026
Privilege escalation in Red Hat Web Terminal allows local users with command access to gain root privileges inside an affected container. The tooling image creates /etc/passwd as group-writable, enabling root-group members to append an account with UID 0. Exploitation requires command execution in the container and root-group membership; the resulting privileges remain inside that container.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in Red Hat Web Terminal allows local users with command access to gain root privileges inside an affected container. The tooling image creates /etc/passwd as group-writable, enabling root-group members to append an account with UID 0. Exploitation requires command execution in the container and root-group membership; the resulting privileges remain inside that container.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-57853
- Published
- Apr 8, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 8, 2026
- Vendor
- 389 Directory Server
- Product
- Red Hat Web Terminal
- Classifications
- CWE-276, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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